2015 Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture Solana Ranch Elementary School Category: New Construction Solana Beach School District Solana Beach, CA
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Landscape Plan Community Environment: Solana Ranch Elementary School is the most recent school completed for the Solana Beach School District, an independent elementary school district serving approximately 6,000 students north of San Diego. Situated on a new 10 acre site adjacent to a small park in the heart of the fast developing Pacific Highlands Ranch, the goal is to create a community oriented school appropriately scaled to the needs of the neighborhood. Envisioned as a school initially housing between 500 and 600 Pre-K-6 students, the school is structured around the idea of smaller learning communities within the overall school environment. The concept is realized through three neighborhoods or smaller learning communities of 175-200 students within the overall school context. These neighborhoods constitute multi-grade clusters of approximately eight classrooms each with shared resource areas and defined outdoor teaching spaces, taking the form of two story houses. Kindergarten and special education classrooms are also integrated into the cluster concept. The neighborhoods are connected to each other by means of an indoor street that acts as a space where teachers for all grades can facilitate multiple learning activities. A multi-purpose building paired with an administrative cluster complement the neighborhoods and provide a shared focal point for the school. The planning process involved participation by the District staff, bond members and teachers, with the HED design team in a series of interactive workshops. The process also incorporates the Savings By Design program which encourages a team approach to the design of energy efficient buildings. Each classroom was designed to maximize the passive use of light and energy.
Small Learning Communities Community Environment: Commons and widened corridors act as an indoor street allowing teachers for all grades to facilitate multiple learning activities. Two-story house Learning Community (LC) clusters of 8 classrooms act as neighborhoods each with their own commons and outdoor learning spaces. Special Ed spaces are integrated into the clusters.
Flexible configuration Learning Environment Desired learning program wish list: Outdoor shaded learning spaces directly accessible from indoor learning spaces Adjustable lighting for varying learning modes Integrated teaching technology Controlled acoustics in all learning spaces for open areas such as commons Flexibility student / teacher configuration to support various learning modalities simultaneously Varied, spatially articulated activity zones Classroom clustering with break out spaces and commons Top: North facing second floor classroom in the main building. The teaching wall in the background is flanked by diffusers for displacement ventilation. Balance light comes from window bays on the left and clearstory windows on the right. Bottom: Interior classroom of the child development center.
Natural Ventilation Learning Environment
Daylight Physical Environment The classrooms have been oriented either north or south to maximize the use of controlled natural light. Ample, shaded windows combined with clearstories or skylights provide light from at least two directions in every classroom for balanced natural day lighting while reducing the consumption of energy for artificial lighting. The classrooms make use of natural cross ventilation as well as fan assisted natural ventilation and employ displacement ventilation for the active mechanical system. Photovoltaic panels are provided on all flat and south facing roofs and could provide as much as 100% power offset. Each classroom was designed to maximize the passive use light and energy. The classrooms have been oriented either north or south to maximize the use of controlled natural light. Ample, shaded windows combined with clerestory windows or skylights provide light from at least two directions in every classroom for balanced natural day lighting while reducing the consumption of energy for artificial lighting. The classrooms make use of natural cross ventilation as well as fan assisted natural ventilation and employ displacement ventilation for the active mechanical system. Photovoltaic panels are provided on all flat and south facing roofs and could provide as much as 100% power offset.
Displacement Ventilation Physical Environment
First Floor Second Floor
Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture Project Data Submitting Firm : Project Role Architect Project Contact John R. Dale Title Principal-in-Charge Address 601 S. Figueroa St. Suite 500 City, State or Province, Country Los Angeles, CA 90017 Phone 213.542.4500 Joint Partner Firm: Project Role Project Contact Title Address City, State or Province, Country Phone Other Firm: Project Role Project Contact Title Address City, State or Province, Country Phone Construction Firm: Project Role Balfour Beatty Construction Project Contact Grace Chan Title Project Manager Address 10620 Treena Street #300 City, State or Province, Country San Diego, CA 92131 Phone 858.795.1576
Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture Project Details Project Name Solana Ranch Elementary School City San Diego State CA District Name Solana Beach School District Supt/President Nancy Lynch, Ed.D. Occupancy Date August 2014 Grades Housed Pre-K-6th Capacity(Students) 650 capacity Site Size (acres) 10 Gross Area (sq. ft.) 68,311 Per Occupant(pupil) 132-110 gross/net please indicate 66,348 / 61,129 Design and Build? If yes, Total Cost: Includes: If no, Site Development: $20,000,000 Building Construction: $21,857,192 Fixed Equipment: $1,400,000 Other: Total: $43,257,192
Sustainable Features Supporting/Supplemental files/images
Entry view of the campus from the north west
General view of the campus from the south east
South classroom wing showing small learning communities in the form of two-story houses with outdoor science classroom to the right Vegetable gardens maintained by students and parents outside the science classroom. Student and a parent at work in the science garden.
View of south classroom wing with integrated photovoltaics and clerestory daylighting General view of the campus from the south east
South classroom wing view towards central lobby Main entry lobby and staircase with silhouette graphics of local birds and plants. Kindergarten terrace is seen through the windows on the right. windows on the right. School art program: included in the playground is a mosaic compass rose which locates the school relative to other places. Silhouettes of native flora and fauna enhance the lobby area.
View Looking of lower along level indoor shared street resource at bridge area crossing a typical classroom main lobby. cluster Shared resource area (collaborative zone) at lower level with house stair in background.
Multi-purpose hall with stage and clearstory lighting